The Temple of Jupiter at Baalbec, in Lebanon, was probably begun in the early 1st century A.D. It was visited by Roberts on 2-8 May 1839. On 4 May he wrote in his journal: ‘It would be difficult to convey even in drawing any idea of this magnificent ruin, its beauty of form, the exquisite richness of its decoration or the vast magnitude of its dimensions.’ This is not one of Roberts's watercolours that were subsequently engraved. It is, however, closely related to an oil painting, also of 1842, showing a similar composition which was sold at Sotheby's London, 24 November 1976, lot 304.